Martin Bobgan
Psychological counseling theories and therapies have given Americans a new way of thinking and have turned our country into a therapeutic culture of the self—where the self and how it feels about itself are at the center of meaning. People from coast to coast have embraced a psychological mindset that puts emotional deprivation and woundedness as the root cause of nearly every personal and social problem. This mindset has the potential to make everyone into a victim needing the services of the ever-expanding mental-health system. Fifteen years ago Charles Sykes wrote a book titled A Nation of Victims: The Decay of the American Character, in which he says:
The ethos of victimization has an endless capacity not only for exculpating one’s self from blame, washing away responsibility in a torrent of explanation—racism, sexism, rotten parents, addiction, and illness—but also for projecting guilt onto others.1
Sykes also says, “The impulse to flee from personal responsibility and blame others seems far more deeply embedded within the American culture.”2 In fact, he declares, “The National Anthem has become The Whine,” and explains, “Increasingly, Americans act as if they had received a lifelong indemnification from misfortune and a contractual release from personal responsibility.”3
Psychological Mindset
The psychological mindset evolved out of the fairly recent development of clinical psychology (including psychotherapy, counseling psychology, and marriage and family counseling), which was birthed in colleges and universities around 1950 and expanded through politics and money.4 Since that time, it has exploded to the extent that Dr. Ellen Herman describes psychology’s popularity and impact on the Western world this way in her book titled The Romance of American Psychology:
Psychological insight is the creed of our time. In the name of enlightenment, experts promise help and faith, knowledge and comfort. They devise confident formulas for happy living and ambitious plans for dissolving the knots of conflict. Psychology, according to its boosters, possesses worthwhile answers to our most difficult personal questions and practical solutions for our most intractable social problems
Herman also says:
In the late twentieth-century United States, we are likely to believe what psychological experts tell us. They speak with authority to a vast audience and have become familiar figures in most communities, in the media, and in virtually every corner of popular culture. Their advice is a big business.6
The kind of psychology that carries this power to turn people into victims is psychotherapy with its underlying psychologies, such as Sigmund Freud’s theory of the unconscious and Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, along with an estimated 500 different counseling systems and their theories. After all, who has a perfect life, certainly none of the theorists, all of whom developed their systems out of their own personal lives and creative imagination?7
In her book Manufacturing Victims: What the Psychology Industry Is Doing to People, Dr. Tana Dineen reveals what the so-called caring profession has become. She begins her book with the following words and the rest of her book proves her point:
Psychology presents itself as a concerned and caring profession working for the good of its clients. But behind the benevolent facade is a voracious, self-serving industry that proffers “facts” which are often unfounded, provides “therapy” which can be damaging, and exerts influence, which is having devastating effects on the social fabric.8
Dineen also says:
It is not news to say that psychology has become an influential cultural force or that society is becoming more and more filled with people who consider themselves victims who are psychologically needy in one way or another.
What is news is that psychology is manufacturing most of these victims; that it is doing this with motives based on power and profit (emphasis hers).9
While, indeed, there are real victims, the psychotherapeutic mindset has trivialized the horrors that some people have experienced by so expanding the meaning that now everyone qualifies if they want to. The role of victim can actually be quite enticing. Besides qualifying for sympathy from friends, engaging in endless psychological therapy centered on self, and gaining exoneration from responsibility and guilt, being a victim provides a new identity of being the hero or heroine in one’s own drama of overcoming horrendous obstacles in the grand quest for psychological healing. Rather than having to face the ugly fact of their own sin without excuse or reason or blame-shifting, they choose to be victims. Dr. Carol Tavris and Dr. Elliot Aronson describe the usefulness of victimhood that comes from recovered memory therapy in their book titled Mistakes Were Made (but not by me): Why We Justify Foolish Beliefs, Bad Decisions, and Hurtful Acts. They say:
Why would people claim to remember that they had suffered harrowing experiences if they hadn’t, especially when that belief causes rifts with families or friends? By distorting their memories, these people can “get what they want by revising what they had,” and what they want is to turn their present lives, no matter how bleak or mundane, into a dazzling victory over adversity. Memories of abuse also help them resolve the dissonance between “I am a smart, capable person” and “My life sure is a mess right now” with an explanation that makes them feel good and removes responsibility: “It’s not my fault my life is a mess. Look at the horrible things they did to me.”10
Psychological Mindset Christianized?
Yes, we are surrounded by a nation of victims with a therapeutic mindset, but wait—we are Christians! How does this affect those of us who have been given new life through faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross? What does this have to do with the Gospel and with living the Christian life? Plenty!
Almost as soon as the romance of psychology took hold of Americans, it was embraced by Christians who believed psychological counseling theories and therapies would be useful for helping Christians. These psychological counseling ideas were brought into pastoral counseling classes in numerous seminaries. Next came the “Christian psychologists” who devised a plan to integrate counseling psychologies theories and therapies with Christianity, both for counseling believers and for instructing the saints about how to live the Christian life. And now, what is the advice people hear when they are struggling with emotional distress and problems of living? “You need counseling.” And, what they mean is professional counseling, psychotherapy and its underlying theories of the self. Why? Because they believe a lie that, in essence, says that the cross of Christ, the Word of God, the work of the Holy Spirit, and the fellowship of believers are not enough for people with emotional or relational problems of living and that Christians need what only psychological theories and therapies can do. This is because of what Sykes calls:
The triumph of the therapeutic mentality … which insisted upon seeing the immemorial questions of human life as problems that required solutions. The therapeutic culture provided both in abundance: The therapists transformed age-old human dilemmas into psychological problems and claimed that they (and they alone) had the treatment.11
This lie about the Word of God, the work of the Holy Spirit, and the fellowship of the saints not being sufficient for dealing with so-called psychological problems of living is promoted by numerous leaders and believed throughout the church. One of them is Dr. Bruce Narramore, Distinguished Professor at Rosemead School of Psychology at Biola University, who says: “I think the critics [of psychology] need to ask, ‘Why are people so interested in psychology?’ The thought is that we ought to go back to the old way. But the old way wasn’t working.”12 Narramore says this without proof or evidence and thereby implies that for nearly 2000 years God failed to supply His children with the means of dealing with problems of living.
The integration of the theories and therapies of counseling psychology has succeeded in turning the body of Christ into a bunch of victims. If this were a book title, the subtitle could be “The Demise of Biblical Ministry.” In its eager embrace of this kind of psychology, the church has left its first love and fallen for the wisdom of man and “philosophy and vain deceit” (1 Cor. 2; Col. 2:8). That this kind of psychology is now regular fare in churches across America can be seen in the observation of Dr. Frank Furedi in his book Therapy Culture, in which he says: “A study of ‘seeker churches’ in the US argues that their ability to attract new recruits is based on their ability to tap into the therapeutic understanding of Americans.”13 He sees this as a preoccupation with the self, and, indeed, that is what it is all about—self!
All About Self
The focus of psychological therapy is on self and its problems from the perspective that the self is essentially good, but wounded emotionally by circumstances and other people. Therefore more and more Christians are seeing themselves as innocent victims with their “mistakes” and problems of living being due to other people and circumstances beyond their control. Worse yet, some, who have been convinced that the source of their problems is what happened to them as young children, spend months and years in therapy and/or in so-called inner healing. Some are trying to gain insight by remembering real events and some are searching for supposedly forgotten memories of abuse and neglect. Others are encouraged to see a figure of Jesus add something to the memory to heal or change it, but, since this is all in their imagination, they end up with a false Jesus. The idea in all of this kind of counseling and inner healing is that self has been harmed in some way and must be helped and healed.
Psychotherapy thus attempts to fix the self so that its so-called essential goodness can be experienced and expressed. The psychological mindset sees the problem as on the outside. The solution is found within the self, albeit with the help of those who have special psychological knowledge. Self is central and must be nurtured with self-love, self-esteem, and self-worth, all of which are supposed to lead to self-fulfillment, but which generally increase self-absorption, self-centeredness, and self-indulgence.
In contrast, the Word of God presents the truth about mankind, that we are sinners by nature and therefore not essentially good in ourselves. Romans 3:10 says: “There is none righteous, no not one” and verse 23 says, “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” The problem of sin comes from within and the solution comes from outside ourselves, from God Himself through the cross of Christ, who bore our sin, and purchased our new life, which is received by grace through faith and lived by grace through faith.
Victim or Sinner?
One of the main goals of much counseling psychology is to relieve guilt so that individuals can feel better about themselves and thereby supposedly handle their lives more effectively. Helping an individual see himself as needy, emotionally wounded, and having been harmed or disappointed by others is one convenient way to sidestep personal responsibility, sin, and guilt. This is the opposite of the Bible, which provides the true remedy for sin and the only remedy for the human condition through Jesus Christ and all He accomplished to rid one of sin and guilt.
The whole of Scripture points to the Lamb of God slain before the foundation of the world. Its focal point is Jesus Christ satisfying God’s wrath against sin and procuring forgiveness and new life for believers. Christianity is all about living the new life and reckoning oneself dead to the old life. Christianity is not about focusing on problems and on other people’s sins and shortcomings, and it is not about dredging up the past to fix the present. The Christian life is about confessing one’s own sin, walking according to the new life in Christ, and “forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before” towards the goal of the “high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:13,14).
The early church had the one remedy for everyone’s present problems and past circumstances: the cross of Christ! The magnitude of each person’s sin against God from the cradle to the grave is more than anyone could bear to imagine, but Jesus took it all upon Himself so that he could give every believer new life. He, who knew no sin, died in the place of those who were by nature sin. He did not just come to fix the flesh (the old nature). He came to put it on the cross so that believers, by identifying with Him, could reckon themselves dead to the old and alive to the new.
Everyone has been adversely affected by the sins of others to some degree, but the adverse effects or the sinful tendencies from parents or sinful ways learned from them reside in the flesh (old nature). Our flesh is therefore the problem, not something outside ourselves, either past or present. Therefore, the Bible does not teach people to nurture their so-called “inner child” or to develop self-esteem or to probe their early childhood years to look for ways that adults failed them in any way. The Bible does not advise anyone to remember and re-experience past pain, disappointments, or even abuse for the sake of personal or spiritual growth. The Bible does not suggest that people must be healed emotionally before they can believe God or before they can grow spiritually.
Considering the grievous circumstances and the childhoods of many of the Gentile Christians, the early church had plenty of potential “victims” (many born and raised in slavery with the accompanying sexual and physical abuse and being treated as less than human). But, did the church treat them as victims needing to heal their emotional wounds or to remember the pain of the past in order to know God and to grow spiritually? No! The Bible does not portray mankind as victims, but as sinners. Jesus died for sinners, not victims!
The Way of the Cross
The way of the cross is a totally different way of dealing with serious life issues and problems of living. Rather than trying to remember the past and somehow rework painful memories through therapy or so-called inner healing, Christians need to reckon themselves dead to the past by identifying with Christ’s death and to live according to their new life in Christ. Everything needs to be taken to the cross instead of relived and talked about. Nevertheless, many of the people who promote this senseless return to the past agree that Christ died for our sins, but insist that many Christians still need healing from the past. However, digging up old memories for the purpose of changing one’s present life is counterproductive to the cross and in effect denies the finished work of Christ.
Jesus said, “It is finished.” So we say to fellow Christians: Identify with those words when you bring sin to the cross, your own sin and the sins committed against you. Recognize that Jesus suffered the pain and eternal consequence of those sins. He felt the pain and agony of every sin you have committed and the pain of every sin committed against you. He took it all and said, “It is finished.” If a memory with its pain comes back, treat it as a temptation from the enemy, who wants to rob you of the truth of what Christ did and to undermine your identification with Him, both in His death and resurrection. Satan always works to keep Christians struggling in the flesh, because that is where they are the most vulnerable and because he hates the life of Christ in every believer. He is most pleased when Christians walk according to the flesh or their old nature. Therefore, the devil is pleased with all forms of psychological therapy and related forms of inner healing, including Theophostic Prayer Ministry.14
Think Biblically, Not Psychologically
Christians need to think biblically when they read books about how to live and deal with problems of living. They need to guard their thinking when watching or listening to believers or unbelievers talking about how to deal with the issues of life and about what it is to be a Christian. They need to be alert to such expressions as: felt needs, rejection, broken lives, repression, denial, defense mechanisms, inferiority complex, sublimation, projection, transference, maladjustment, low self-esteem, the unconscious, hidden reservoirs, hidden memories, emotional wounds, emotional healing, codependence, addiction, compulsion, trauma, stress, identity crisis. Every behavior imaginable has the possibility of a psychological maldescription.
Utilizing psychological therapies or inner healing blinds Christians to the glory of the cross and the great love that was poured out for them. Those who are willing to face their own depravity and the sins they continue to commit after they have received new life and who honestly look at what Jesus bore in their place have a greater realization of God’s love. Jesus said, “To whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little” (Luke 7:47). Thus, by seeing the magnitude of what Christ forgave them, believers know His love, and by knowing and receiving His love, are enabled to love Him back and His love in them flows out to others. The cross is the answer to all the pain of the past, and Jesus is the answer for every present problem of living. Here is the victory won by Christ and worked into the fabric of believers’ lives as they reckon themselves dead to their old life and alive unto Him. No wonder the enemy of our souls has invented such an enticing trap into victimhood!
Believers do not transform their lives through looking at the sins of others or by revisiting the past, but by confessing their own sin and believing that Jesus took it all. Believers need to leave their own sin and the sins committed against them on the cross and not try to remember, reconstruct, fix or transform the so-called inner child, which is actually the old nature or flesh. They are to live by the new life Jesus has procured for them, the new life that stretches forward into eternity. Colossians 2:6-10 says:
As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power.
The Word of God continually calls believers back to their source of new life, back to faith in Christ and all he accomplished for living the new life. Believers are not called to be victims of their present circumstances or their past or of a powerful motivating unconscious supposedly formed during early life. They are to be walking by faith, growing in faith, and “abounding therein with thanksgiving.” That does not sound like the whine of the victims.
Furthermore, Paul warns believers not to be robbed of what they have in Christ through “philosophy and vain deceit” that turns them into victims. Psychological counseling theories are not science. They more aptly fall into Paul’s category of “philosophy and vain deceit.” Indeed, they resemble religion more than science. Dr. Thomas Szasz states the case very clearly in his book The Myth of Psychotherapy: “Herein lies one of the supreme ironies of modem psychotherapy: it is not merely a religion that pretends to be a science, it is actually a fake religion that seeks to destroy true religion.Ó15 Psychological counseling theories are collections of human opinions arranged in theoretical frameworks. They are human inventions based on the perception and personal experiences of the theorists themselves. They are “profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called: which some professing have erred concerning the faith”(1 Tim. 6:20-21).
Even when Paul was beaten and left for dead, he did not see himself as a victim, but as a recipient of the very life of Christ by grace through faith. Therefore he declared: “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). Rather than victims forever seeking to be healed of emotional wounds, Christians are new creations in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17), fully equipped for challenges, trials, disappointments, dangers, and all sorts of calamities. Christ has won the victory and “ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power.”
Victimization shifts the attention away from one’s own responsibility for what is thought, said, and done. Victimization shifts attention away from one’s own sin and onto the sins of others committed against them. Victimization diverts believers away from the cross of Christ. Victimization robs them of gratitude for God’s unspeakable gift and thereby robs them of a close walk with Him. Turning Christians into victims weakens their faith and stunts spiritual growth. Every choice to walk according to the Spirit by grace through faith brings spiritual maturity. The choice is up to every believer, whether to be a psychologically defined and created victim or to be a biblically defined sinner saved by grace and growing into the likeness of Christ.
(PsychoHeresy Awareness Letter, May-June 2008, Vol. 16, No. 3)
“Just read your article on victims (PsychoHeresy )…
I used to feel like everything that I went through was not my fault. I was angry at God. My mom had mental illness, I was raped by 3 men, abused in my first marriage, boyfriend killed in accident, and blah blah blah. But one day that outlook changed. What was it? I took responsibility. I put myself in bad situations. I made poor choices that led me to those circumstances. I ignored God’s voice. I…I..I….I was the reason. Not God. Once I realized that, God was able to come in and take care of business. My relationship with God was mended. God was merciful and he blessed me beyond what I deserve. He is in control. Not me. Being the victim puts you in the driving seat—I was driving around in circles. That’s all being a victim does. Gets u nowhere in a hurry. I want God to be my driver. I don’t want the control. Let Him take me where He will.
But there are sooo many people who can make anything an act of victimization! They twist innocent words or events to make themselves the victim. It’s toxic for the soul. It eats away at the victim and seeps into those around them. It’s all about the rush. The attention. People can be quick to feed these lions with the food they seek. Dangerous.” anonymous
Endnotes
1 Charles J. Sykes. A Nation of Victims: The Decay of the American Character. New York: St. MartinÕs Press, 1992, p. 11.
2 Ibid., pp. 14,15.
3 Ibid., p. 15.
4 Rogers H. Wright and Nicholas A. Cummings, eds. The Practice of Psychology: The Battle for Professionalism. Phoenix, AZ: Zeig, Tucker & Theisen, Inc., 2001.
5 Ellen Herman. The Romance of American Psychology. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 1195, 1996, p. 1.
6 Ibid.
7 Harvey Mindess. Makers of Psychology: The Personal Factor. New York: Insight Books, 1988; Linda Riebel, ÒTheory as Self-Portrait and the Ideal of Objectivity,Ó Journal of Humanistic Psychology, Spring 1982.
8 Tana Dineen. Manufacturing Victims: What the Psychology Industry is Doing to People. Montreal, QB: Robert Davies Multimedia Publishing, 1996, 1998, 2000, p. 15.
9 Ibid., pp. 17,18.
10 Carol Tavris and Elliot Aronson. Mistakes Were Made (but not by me): Why We Justify Foolish Beliefs, Bad Decisions, and Hurtful Acts. New York: Harcourt, Inc., 2007, p. 94.
11 Sykes, op. cit., p. 34.
12 Bruce Narramore, Christianity Today, May 17, 1993, p. 26.
13 Frank Furedi. Therapy Culture: Cultivating Vulnerability in an Uncertain Age. New York: Routledge, 2004, p. 18.
14 See Martin and Deidre Bobgan. Theophostic Counseling: Divine Revelation? Or PsychoHeresy? Santa Barbara, CA: EastGate Publishers, 1999.
15 Thomas Szasz. The Myth of Psychotherapy. Garden City: Anchor/Doubleday Press, 1978, p. 28.
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VIDEO Mission Mexico Update January 2026 [video]
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Abiding
The Prayer Life of Jesus [podcast]
Prayer is communion, communing with God. Those who earnestly seek God in prayer, who earnestly seek to know Him and to fulfill His will for their temporary lives in this world…. will glorify Him here and to be with Him eternally.
What do we learn from the prayer life of our LORD Jesus?
“Luke 5:16 PRAYERS OF JESUS. Luke stresses more than the other gospels the place of prayer in the life and work of Jesus. When the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus at the Jordan, He was ‘praying’ (3:21), at times He withdrew from the multitudes ‘and prayed (5:16); ‘and He continued all night in prayer before choosing the twelve disciples (6:12). He was ‘alone praying’ before He asked His disciples an important question (9:18); at His transfiguration He climbed the mountain ‘to pray’ (9:28); the actual transfiguration occurred while ‘he prayed’ (9:29); and He ‘was praying’ just before He taught the disciple’s the Lord’s Prayer (11:1). In Gethsemane He ‘prayed more earnestly’ (22:44); on the cross He prayed for others (23:34); and His last words uttered before His death were a prayer (23:46). Luke also mentions that He prayed after His resurrection (24:30).
In examining the life of Jesus in the other Gospels, we note that He prayed before extending the invitation, “Come unto me, all ye that labour …’ (Mat. 11:25-28); He prayed at Lazarus’s tomb (John 11:41-42), for Peter (Luke 22:32), and during the institution of the Lord’s Supper (John 17).” Life in the Spirit Study Bible
“And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.” Matthew 14:23
“14:23 PRAY ALONE. While on earth, Jesus often sought time to be alone with God (cf. Mark 1:35; 6:46; 5:16; 6:12; 9:18; 22:41-42; Heb. 5:7). Time alone with God is essential to the spiritual well-being of every believer. We must continually remember that the lack of desire for solitary prayer to our heavenly Father is an unmistakable sign that the spiritual life within us is in a process of decline. If this is happening, we must turn from all that offends the Lord and renew our commitment to persevere in seeking God and His saving grace.” Life in the Spirit Study Bible
“And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;” Luke 18:1
“18:1 MEN OUGHT ALWAYS TO PRAY. Jesus was frequently concerned that His followers pray continually in order to accomplish God’s will for their lives. From this parable of the widow who persevered we learn several things; (1) We must persevere in prayer with regard to all matters until Jesus returns (vv 7-8; Rom. 12:12; Eph. 6:18; Col. 4:2; 1 Thess. 5:17). (2) In this life we have an adversary (v. 3), Satan (1 Pet. 5:8). Prayer can protect us from the evil one (Mat. 6:13). (3) In our prayers we should cry out against sin and for justice (v 7). (4) Persistent prayer is counted as faith (v. 8). (5) In the final days before the return of Christ, there will be increased diabolical opposition to the prayers of the faithful (1 Tim. 4:1). Because of Satan and the pleasures of the world many will cease having a persistent prayer life (8:14; Mat. 13:22; Mark 4:19).” Life in the Spirit Study Bible
SUMMATION you might ask?
Following Jesus by living a life of prayer with the Father and Himself – living your life in complete submission to and dependency upon the LORD …. daily declaring with John the Baptist that “He must increase, but I must decrease.” (John 3:30).
“I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.” John 5:30
“Pray without ceasing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:17
Be persistent. Be relentless – in praying, communing with your God!
Read aloud, begin to memorize and live out:
“Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually.” 1 Chronicles 16:11
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IS DOUBTING YOUR SALVATION ALWAYS A BAD THING? [podcast]
Making Sure We are Truly Saved While We Still Can
Obviously, the assurance of salvation should concern each and every one of us.
“For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.” 1 Corinthians 11:31-32
Notice “if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.” Note that those who honestly assess and amend their ways in the LORD will not be judged with the wicked. Those who don’t, will be. They will fall away and not endure to the end (Matthew 10:22; 24:13; Colossians 1:23; Hebrews 3:6, 12-15; 10:26-39; 2 Peter 2:20-21, etc.).
Are you judging yourself, testing and discerning your life against Holy Scripture?
“Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the LORD understand all things.” Proverbs 28:5
Counterfeits refuse to judge their actual fruit, their lives. They want the assurance of eternal glory with no responsibility of actual repentance and an abiding, obedient relationship with the Savior they claim. They want the crown without the cross. They do not wish to be bothered with truly engaging in an abiding relationship with Jesus on His stated terms but rather seek to use Him to get them out of hell. Jesus tells all who’ve been saved that abiding, remaining in Him to the end of their lives is essential to eternity with Him (John 15:6, etc.).
“He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.” Proverbs 28:13
Is believing the biblical truth that a saved person can backslide, fall away, and forfeit their place with God (lose salvation) a bad thing? No. It’s only a bad thing in the minds of those who want to live on their own depraved, self-serving terms while deluding themselves into thinking they are going to God’s holy Heaven.
WHY are we so afraid of doubting if we are truly saved – born again AND presently abiding in Christ? (John 15:1-6). It will be too late when we die which could be today. Think about this. NOW is the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2) and so today is the day to honestly examine ourselves (1 Corinthians 11:31-32; 2 Corinthians 13:5). Please read the LORD’s book of Ezekiel. You will discover many divine treasures in this magnificent volume. Share this message if you wish to help others.
“A disciplined conscience is a man’s best friend. It may not be his most amiable, but it is his most faithful monitor.” Austin Phelps
“LORD Jesus, please grant me the Holy Fear of God!” should be the daily prayer of every true saint.
“Teach me thy way, O Lord; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.” Psalms 86:11
I told someone recently that I love listening to a preacher or reading Scripture that can make me doubt my salvation because it further quickens my spirit in the fear of God to scamper to the feet of Jesus afresh.
“Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? 18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. 19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. 20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. 21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.” 1 John 3:19-21
As we see in the passage above, assurance of salvation fills the hearts of all born again believers are who working out their own salvation with fear and trembling.
“Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” Philippians 2:12-13
There are conditions the LORD requires to procure and walk in His blessings.
Assurance of salvation is biblical. Eternal security is not. The idea that one is eternally secure no matter what they do after being saved, is a lie from hell. Jesus told us that among those He saves, any who don’t abide, continue with Him, will be cast into the fire (John 15:6).
The lack of a clear conscience, the lack of assurance in one’s heart, is due to the lack of present abiding, obedience. All who are Christ’s and presently abiding, are filled with the assurance of His salvation. Read John 15.
Wolves among us, when addressing assurance, nearly never speak of the personal responsibility God gives to all He saves – to obey Him (John 14:15, 21-23, etc.). When one lacks assurance, it’s only because they have chosen to lack obeying the Savior (2 Corinthians 2:17; 2 Timothy 4:2-4; Jude 3-4).
“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” James 1:22
WHAT ABOUT WHEN SOMEONE ELSE DOUBTS THAT YOU ARE TRULY SAVED?
When a true believer in Jesus Christ questions someone’s salvation, it is in no way to be rude, but rather out of godly concern. Jesus told us to “know” (discern) people “by their fruit” (Matt. 7:16, 20). Good “fruit” (produce) can only come forth from the born again, abiding disciple of Jesus. Good fruit comes forth from a real relationship with Christ (John 15). One must know Him and that begins at the moment of true repentance and faith (Acts 20:21).
If the overall fruit of someone’s life is not that which the Bible teaches is consistent with truly knowing Jesus and having been regenerated, then there should be concern.
There are some among us who violently object to doubting someone’s salvation, Yet, based on the biblical mandate to “know” (discern) others “by their fruits,” this will happen at times (Matthew 7:16, 20). When a professing Christian’s salvation is doubted based upon lack of good fruit to prove it, some become irate with a “How dare you doubt my/that person’s salvation! Just who are you to do such a thing!?” But wait a minute – didn’t Jesus instruct us to “know” others based on their “fruits”? (Matthew 7:16, 20). And if there are no counterfeits who pose as Christ’s people, why did Jesus say that there are chaff among the wheat? (Matthew 13). Yes He did and so why are we surprised if some of those around us are found to be lost even though they think they are saved? And yes the chaff are going to be separated by the angels in the end but for now Jesus told us to discern (to distinguish between) or to “know” them “by their fruits” and that’s done by fruit inspection.
One man said that he believed that over 90% of church goers in America have never been genuinely born again as we “must be” in order to be brought into God’s kingdom (John 3:3, 7).
Repentance is where and when regeneration happens. In the modern church world, such a foundational biblical doctrine is rarely mentioned much less preached or correctly taught to define what it is and bring conviction to the hearers. In the vast majority of churches today, salvation is never or seldom presented. So how can the sinner respond in repentance and be saved? Is it any wonder so few are saved? People are rarely if ever called to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ today as they were publicly called to do by the apostles of Jesus (Acts 2:38; 3:19).
There are some people who hang around with the Christian body that I just never got a peace about. There doesn’t seem to be the presence of the divine Person of the Holy Spirit and therefore the fruit He alone can produce is absent (Galatians 5:22-23). One must be born again and given a new nature by the LORD or we are not His. When this conversion takes place, there will be good fruit (Matthew 3:7-10).
Should we float people all the way into hell instead of helping make sure they have truly repented and been born again? Is that love or hatred?
If someone questions our salvation, how should we react? How about this way: “Well, thank you for being concerned about my eternal soul. I am open and willing to investigate (biblically) the possibility that I may not have truly repented (laid down my life) and placed my faith in Jesus Christ. Or, since He saved me in the past, perhaps I have backslidden and no longer know Him due to allowing sin in my life.”
HONEST CONCERN VERSUS CRUEL CONDEMNATION
There are going to be children of the enemy that will come in and attempt to confuse and to derail you by doubting that you are saved. They do this to bring “confusion and every evil work” instead of “godly edifying” (James 3:16; 1 Timothy 1:4).
David, the man after God’s own heart, was often persecuted by the wicked, his place with God being the central attack of the enemy.
“My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God? … As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God?” Psalms 42:3, 10
Those who are His have the “witness” of His Spirit in them:
“The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.” Romans 8:16
Why are you bothered when someone else doubts your salvation? Do you have the bearing witness of the Holy Spirit as a witness in your heart? (Romans 8:16). If you are assured by God (not self or mere man) of your salvation, why would you be concerned if someone else doubted it? Can you say with Paul “nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day”? (2 Timothy 1:12). Did God not say that we who have and are believing the record He gave of His Son have HIS “witness” within us?
“If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. 10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. 11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may KNOW that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.” 1 John 5:9-13
David told us that our “sentence” comes from the LORD Himself not man:
“Let my sentence (verdict) come forth from thy presence; let thine eyes behold the things that are equal.” Psalms 17:2
The Hebrew word that is translated “sentence” here means: act of deciding a case, decision, a verdict (favorable or unfavorable), sentence of formal decree.
By reason of creation, God Himself is the only One who can determine judicially that one is righteous or unrighteous, just or unjust, justified or not justified. The Almighty is the only One qualified to sentence any individual to Heaven or hell. Either He approves of us or He disapproves of us (Ezekiel 18:4).
“STRONG CONFIDENCE”
“In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge. 27 The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.” Proverbs 14:26-27
The key to having “strong confidence” and escaping “the snares of death,” is fearing God.
God’s Word tells us that “The fear of the Lord is clean” (Psalms 19:9). The heart that truly fears God is made “clean” from any doubt and has full and “strong confidence” or assurance and strength of conviction.
The key is being with Jesus – being in Christ. Jesus told us that those who are “with” Him are His and all others are “against” Him (Matthew 12:30). The whole of Holy Scripture is the very testimony of God and we can plainly observe that being presently and truly “in Christ” is the determining factor.
The Father spoke from Heaven audibly, declaring of Christ, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17). ALL who are presently in Christ, are well pleasing to God – justified, sentenced and declared righteous. Justification, to be declared righteous by God, is always “by faith” (Romans 3:21-5:17; Hebrews 11:4-7).
Ultimately, your “sentence” or sentencing comes forth from God alone who is the only Judge of your eternal soul. In light of this, Paul writes:
“Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. 34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” Romans 8:33-34
According to the whole counsel of God’s Word, believers in Jesus Christ – those who genuinely turn to God in repentance, placing their faith in Jesus Christ – have been shown mercy by God. This gift of eternal life was made possible through the finished and perfect work of the One sinless, perfect Redeemer, Jesus Christ, who bled on the cross, was buried, and rose again from the dead. He is “the Son of God with power.”
“And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:” Romans 1:4
Being rooted and grounded in God’s love is so very important to being “sound in the faith,” having a “sound heart” and a “sound mind” (Proverbs 14:30; 2 Timothy 1:7; Titus 1:13). This all comes from learning and believing “sound doctrine” (Titus 1:9; 2:1).
GOING DEEP
Heeding the apostle Paul’s exhortation to all those whom the LORD has saved, is essential to an ever-deepening, abiding, assured place with the LORD.
“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: 7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.” Colossians 2:6-7
Only going on to perfection (spiritual maturity) by learning and obeying the truth of God can make one free from doubting that He is God’s child (Hebrews 5:11-6:3).
“As he spake these words, many believed on him. 31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. … If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” John 8:30-32, 36
As the born again disciple of Christ continues to walk in the light of truth with Jesus, He is kept in Christ and assured of salvation.
“If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:6-7
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